Clasp device



April "21, 1953 R. G. @Loss CLASP DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1951 FIG. I

JNVENToR. Ifylchord G. Gloss FIG. 2

ATTOR N EYS Patented Apr. 21, 1953 CLASP DEVICE Richard G. Gloss, Cranston, R. I.

Application August 11, 1951, Serial No. 241,441

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a clasp or clasp iinding and more particularly to the mechanical mechanism for retaining the clasp in certain positions.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a clasp which may be frictionally retained in different positions to which it is set.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which is frictionally maintained in position but will resist movement of a gripping jaw in one direction more than in the other direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which is of simple construction and yet effective in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp which is so constructed that it may be soldered in one position without destroying the temper of the resilient part of the clasp.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of conup into U-form a member having a pair of ears which are so spaced that they will receive the other part of the iinding with which they are assembled. The other part of the iinding comprises a pin with trunnions, one of which is outof-round to t into a corresponding out-of-round opening in one of the ears to prevent rotation of the pin. About the pin there is rolled an eye which is formed integral with the jaw which may be moved irictionally about the pin to hold it in diierent positions.

With reference to the drawings, I designates a. member having a base portion I I which may be soldered to an ornament I2, which in turn will act as one of the gripping jaws of the completed device. From this base II there extends ears I4 and I5 which are enlarged at their ends as at I6 and I1. A cylindrical hole I8 is formed in the ear I4 and an elongated slot I9 is formed in the ear I5. When soldered in position, these ears are left spread apart suiciently so that a pin may be assembled between them.

A jaw designated generally has an eye 2I rolled from the stock of the jaw, which eye is substantially cylindrical. Its edge 22 closely approaches the body portion 23 of the jaw but may be spaced slightly therefrom.

A pin 24 is formed cylindrical and has trunnions extending from its opposite ends. One trunnion 2 5 is circular in cross section and mal1 have a bearing in the opening I8 in ear I4. The other trunnion 26 is out-of-round or of elongated formation, such as rectangular in crosssection and is of such shape as to iit into the slot I9 in the ear I5. The diameter of the pin 24 is slightly larger than the inner diameter 2l of the eye 2I and for assembly purposes this pin is forced into the eye 2I so as to expand this eye. There is suiiicient inherent resiliency in the stock so that there is always a tendency for the eye 2I to contract and grip the pin 24. As these parts are substantially cylindrical and not in any way attened or off-set, there will be at least a three-point bearing engagement between the eye 2l and the pin 24 so as to provide an extended frictional surface.

With the pin assembled in the eye 2l and the ears spread apart a distance to receive the pin after the base II is soldered to the ornament I2, the pin and jaw are placed between the ears and the ears then bent into position so that the pin is held between the ears in a non-rotatable manner.

By rolling the eye 2I counter-clockwise as shown in Figure 2, a movement of the jaw 30 in the direction of the arrow 30, as shown in Figure 2, will tend to close or contract the eye 2I and thus cause it to more securely grip the pin 24 while frictioning thereon, while a movement in the opposite direction would tend to expand or enlarge the eye. Thus, an opening movement of the jaw will apply a greater friction and `cause more pressure to be exerted for opening the jaw than moving the jaw in the opposite direction toward gripping positi-on. This is of importance as a tendency to resist opening of the jaw will maintain the jaw in gripping position which is desired.

I claim:

1. In a clasp device a member having a pair of ears having bearing openings therethrough, a. cylindrical pin received in said openings and extending between said ears, means to prevent the pin from rotating relative to said member, a jaw having a generally cylindrical resilient eye engaging said pin with an inherent tendency to contract and friction against said pin, said eye being coiled in a direction of rotation for closing movement of the jaw with a normal diameter smaller than the pin so as to grip the pin whereby to tend to cause contracting of the eye upon opening movement of the jaw and expanding of the eye upon closing movement of the jaw.

2. In -a clasp device as in claim 1 wherein the pin has trunnions extending into said ears, one of which trunnions is out-of-round to prevent turning of the pin in the ears.

3. In a clasp device as in claim 1 wherein the member "adpted foibe secured mail ornament which vfill 's'eve as Ta -second aw of `the clasp.

4. In a clasp device as in claim 1 wherein the member is fixed to an ornament. 4

' RICHARD G. GLOSS.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

